CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN signed that will see a steelworks dump on a Cork island turned into a park.
The 22-acre dump at Haulbowline Island, which was previously the site of Irish Ispat – and before that, Irish Steel – carries waste and slag left behind from the steel works which continued there for over six decades.
The €40 million remediation contracts were signed in Cork yesterday. The plan to clean up the East Tip on the island was signed off on in 2011.
Haulbowline Island – the base of the Irish Naval Service – is located within Cork Harbour, between Cobh to the north and Ringaskiddy to the south. The East Tip contains approximately 650,000 square metres of steelworks waste that was deposited on a sand spit over a 40 year period.
In August 2011, Cork County Council, acting as agent to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, embarked on a €40 million programme for the rehabilitation of the area.
The tip will be turned into a state-of-the-art park.
Mayor of the County of Cork Declan Hurley said the remediation of Haulbowline was highly important:
“This project is hugely important from a local and national level. We have come a long way with this and I am in no doubt that we will have a fantastic park for the people of Cork but will also offer another jewel in the crown for Cork tourism.”
The works contract is being awarded by Cork County Council to a consortium led by PJ Hegarty & Sons Ltd.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed called the contract signing a “major step”.
“I am very pleased to be here today for the contract signing for these crucial works to remediate the East Tip site at Haulbowline Island. This phase of works marks the start of a significant period of construction activity on the island and a major step towards the transformation of the East Tip into a great asset for the communities and other stakeholders located around Cork Harbour and beyond.”
Famed campaigner Erin Brockovich had previously called for the dump to be cleaned, owing to the potential presence of chromium VI there – the same chemical which had caused the contamination of drinking water in the campaign she is most known for.
The European Commission had threatened to fine Ireland for not addressing it.
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